The Relationship Between Perceived Social Support and Marital Satisfaction With Fathers' State and Trait Anxiety in the Postpartum Period Publisher



Ismailzadeh F ; Samadi P ; Maasoumi R ; Haghani S
Source: Payesh Published:2025

Abstract

Objective(s): Studies on the factors related to fathers' anxiety in Iran are few and their results are often contradictory. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the relationship between perceived social support and marital satisfaction with the state-trait anxiety of fathers in the postpartum period. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in 1402 on 250 fathers under the coverage of selected health centers of Tehran University of Medical Sciences. The data was collected using the demographic questionnaire, Spielberger Anxiety Scale, Perceived Social Support Multidimensional Scale, and Enrich Marital Satisfaction Scale (short form). Data analysis was done using SPSS-16 software, independent t-tests, ANOVA and regression analysis. A significance level of less than 0.05 was considered. Results: The multiple linear regression model showed that having insurance (p=0.020), exercising more than twice a week (p=0/048), marital satisfaction (p<0.001), and perceived social support of the father (p=0.042) were significantly related to his state anxiety, and marital satisfaction had the greatest effect on state anxiety with a standard coefficient of 0.403. Based on the coefficient of determination of the model, the significant predictor was state anxiety. Having insurance (p=0.035), not having a sleep disorder (p=0.026), and the father's marital satisfaction (p<0/001), were also significantly related to father’s trait anxiety, and marital satisfaction had the greatest effect on trait anxiety with a standard coefficient of 0.442. Based on the coefficient of determination of the model, the significant predictor was trait anxiety. Conclusion: The results showed the state-trait anxiety of fathers after the birth of a baby has an inverse relationship with perceived social support and marital satisfaction. © 2025 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.